Grants and Contracts Details
Description
The fragipan is a naturally occurring soil horizon that virtually stops water movement and root growth through
the soil. Its' depth averages about 20]24 inches in the soil types in which it occurs. The layer is due to the
cementation of the soil particles with a silicate rich amorphous aluminosilicate binding agent. The fragipan is
present in about 2.7 million acres of Kentucky soils and about 50 million acres in the U.S. Fragipan soils reduce
yields of crops for 2 reasons: 1) limited water holding capacity due to limited soil depth 2) water saturated soil
conditions during wet periods.
The fragipan itself is a silt loam soil that has been cemented. If the cementation is dissolved, the released soil
particles can begin functioning as a productive soil again. The goal of this project is to try to dissolve the
cementation and make a deeper soil that will hold more water for summer growing crops and reduce
waterlogging in the winter which would make the soil better suited for winter crops and better support
trafficking at this time of the year.
Status | Finished |
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Effective start/end date | 9/1/18 → 12/31/19 |
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